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Cast-Iron Breakfast Sausage with Caramelized Apples and Onions

Be the first to rate itBy TrailFed Camp KitchenReviewed by Blake | TrailFed
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Quick answer

Brown breakfast sausage links in a cast-iron skillet over a medium campfire or camp stove until they hit 160°F, about 12 minutes. Cook sliced onion in the drippings for 8 minutes, then add sliced apples and cook 8 to 10 minutes more until soft and golden. Return the sausage to the pan to warm through. Total time is about 35 minutes.

Cast-Iron Breakfast Sausage with Caramelized Apples and Onions Illustrative Photo
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Sweet apples, soft onion and salty pork sausage, all cooked in one pan. The sausage drippings flavor the fruit, so you don't need butter, syrup or spices.

It uses three ingredients and one skillet, which makes it a good first-morning breakfast when the cooler is still full. Serve it straight from the pan, with a fork and a hot drink.

Recipe card

Cast-Iron Breakfast Sausage with Caramelized Apples and Onions

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Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
Easy
Heat
Medium coals or medium flame
Pack weight
3.5 lb
TrailFit
  • Campfire
  • Camp stove
  • Backpacking
  • Cooler required
  • One burner
  • Low water
  • One-pan cleanup
  • Prep ahead

Ingredients

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Gear you'll need

  • 12-inch cast-iron skillet
  • tongs
  • knife and cutting board
  • instant-read thermometer
  • heat-proof gloves
  • clean plate
  • foil

Steps

  1. Prep the fruit

    Core and slice the apples and slice the onion. Keep the sausage in the cooler until the pan is hot, and wash your hands and knife after touching it.

  2. Heat the skillet

    Set a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat or on a grate over medium coals. Add the oil and let it warm for 2 minutes.

  3. Brown the sausage

    Add the links in a single layer. Cook 10 to 12 minutes, turning every few minutes, until browned all over and 160°F inside. Move them to a clean plate and cover with foil.

  4. Soften the onion

    Leave the drippings in the pan. Add the onion and a pinch of salt, and cook 7 to 8 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft and lightly browned.

  5. Add the apples

    Stir in the apples and cook 8 to 10 minutes, until tender and golden at the edges. If the pan looks dry or the browned bits are sticking, add the water and scrape them up.

  6. Return the sausage

    Nestle the links back into the pan and turn them through the apples and onion. Heat 2 minutes, then check that the sausage is still at least 160°F.

  7. Season and serve

    Taste and add salt and pepper. Serve hot from the skillet.

Trail Notes

Make ahead

Slice the onion at home and carry it in a zip bag. Freeze the sausage solid so it works as an ice pack and stays safely cold. Cut the apples at camp so they don't brown.

Cooler

Keep the sausage at 40°F or colder and use it within 2 days, or while it is still frozen. Rest cooked sausage on a clean plate, never the one that held it raw.

Swap

Firm pears work in place of the apples, and any fresh pork or chicken sausage links work too. Cook chicken sausage to 165°F.

Leave no trace

Let leftover grease cool, then pack it out in a sealed container or can. Don't pour it on the ground. Scatter strained dishwater at least 200 feet from water sources.

Round out your camp day

Picked to work with the same kit as this recipe.

LunchCast-Iron Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet with Whole-Grain MustardReady in 32 min · 3 Ingredients or LessDinnerOne-Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo with SpinachReady in 45 min · Cast IronSnack or treatOne-Burner Skillet Garlic-Parmesan Stovetop Popcorn Clusters with RosemaryReady in 15 min · One Burner

More one-burner camping meals →Planning a trip? Get the free 3-day meal plan →

Campers ask

What are the best apples for cooking at a campsite?

Firm, slightly tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp or Braeburn hold their shape in the pan. Soft apples turn to mush.

How do I know breakfast sausage is done on a campfire?

Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of a link. Fresh pork sausage is safe at 160°F, and the juices should run clear.

Can I cook sausage and apples without a cast-iron skillet?

Yes. Any heavy 12-inch skillet works over a camp stove. Watch the heat, since thinner pans scorch the onion and apples faster.

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